Reviews: Lathes

I have owned a Powermatic 3520B for quite a few years, with a Stronghold chuck and a fair amount of extra tools. One thing I kept noticing, it just wasn’t that good for small things. Hard to move around those big tool rests, and I just could not get myself to pay somebody $78 for a six inch tool rest. Plus, I hated to take off the Stronghold every time I wanted to do something smaller.
Since I had an empty small bench right next to it, I started looking into a small lathe, one I c...

I received my new Nova Galaxi DVR 1644 wood lathe from Teknatool. This is a Beta Model … one of 20 and not yet on the market.
It came assembled ( except for the legs) in one crate (525#) and was very well packed.
I installed the 66” bed on my lathe station instead of using the legs that come with it because I have the layout of everything right there. It took just 2 adapter plates on either end to mount it .
The crate warmed the barn for 2 days
This is a very fine...

In my first review of this new lathe, I brought up 3 things that I felt needed improvement. One was the tailstock quill thread that was reversed, the second was the indexing was hard to read and the third was the on/off switches being flat and in different locations. Well two out of three are fixed and the third I’ll have to live with ( maybe).
The new quill and screw were installed in the tailstock but I had to relocate the key pin to the bottom so I could read the graduations that ...

I love my lathe … but I hate the built-in indexing system!
Enter the Alisam Engineering Indexing System ( http://alisam.com/page/14g9e/Woodworking_turning_OT.html )
Here is what the manufacturer says about it: The system consists of a 10 inch, extensively laser engraved with index lines every 5 degrees and degree marks every 15 degrees, anodized aluminum plate with the appropriate ID for your spindle, with three concentric rows of indexing holes. There are three rows of indexing h...

I had purchased a Harbor Freight 10”X18” about a year ago to turn pens and some other little things in my shop. My Powermatic was just too ungainly to do a pen on.
My problem was that the HF was a PITA to change speeds, and to do a pen properly, I find it necessary to do two speed changes for a total of about three speeds for each pen. (Cutting/shaping/sanding/finishing/polishing) I decided that since the pens started to sell nicely, I would upgrade to a VS lathe.
I looked ...

Let me start by getting the disclaimer out of the way. I am a novice when it comes to turning. I have turned a few chess sets and utility shop items in the past on borrowed lathes. I really love the meditative aspects of curling wood. So, when my wife was curious if we could possibly turn out some candle sticks (she was a professional candlemaker for 12 years) I rose to the occasion and did nothing to quell the creative brain storming. I lauded the benefits of the lathe and bombarded her wit...

If you have looked at the bowl project I posted you know I am a complete turning neophyte AND you know I don’t actually own a lathe. Until now!
I was at The Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers’ annual meeting with a friend who suggested we make a trip to the neighborhood woodworking supply store. I thought it was a great idea because from where I live it’s an hour to either of the two stores (in the state, believe) that have cool stuff like lathes. He knows I have been ...

I have owned a RIKON Mini Lathe for about 3 years and have never had one problem with it. Through misuse/abuse on my part, a couple of parts needed to be replaced. I called RIKON customer service and was greeted very professionally by Dan. I told him I needed to order a few parts and he offerred to transfer me to the parts department which he did. After just a few seconds, Dan came back on and told me that all the parts guys were on the phone and he offerred to take my order. He was able...

There was a yard sale ad that said: “Lathe with tools, $40”, so I hustled right out.I found a “Junk” French or Canadian lathe that is only good for turning Spindle work, but came with about $300 worth of new Craftsman tools. The tools were an assortment of things I did not have.I converted the lathe to a “Buffing machine”, using a threaded rod that is screwed into two turned wood blocks. I will be adding more buffing wheels by simply moving these two alon...

This was my first lathe since middle school shop class. Back then I made a lamp for my mother that made it all the way to state finals. I was excited to get this in my shop and start turning on it and after several months it has performed flawlessly!! I have added the bed extension but not used the tool since adding it. The bed is very solid and the extension was easy to install and level.
This model has the spindle lock and indexing head and operates at 500 – 3900 rpm. I think it is...